§ 1202. — Statement of purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1202]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 25--SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION
SUBCHAPTER I--STATEMENT OF FINDINGS AND POLICY
Sec. 1202. Statement of purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter to--
(a) establish a nationwide program to protect society and the
environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining
operations;
(b) assure that the rights of surface landowners and other
persons with a legal interest in the land or appurtenances thereto
are fully protected from such operations;
(c) assure that surface mining operations are not conducted
where reclamation as required by this chapter is not feasible;
(d) assure that surface coal mining operations are so conducted
as to protect the environment;
(e) assure that adequate procedures are undertaken to reclaim
surface areas as contemporaneously as possible with the surface coal
mining operations;
(f) assure that the coal supply essential to the Nation's energy
requirements, and to its economic and social well-being is provided
and strike a balance between protection of the environment and
agricultural productivity and the Nation's need for coal as an
essential source of energy;
(g) assist the States in developing and implementing a program
to achieve the purposes of this chapter;
(h) promote the reclamation of mined areas left without adequate
reclamation prior to August 3, 1977, and which continue, in their
unreclaimed condition, to substantially degrade the quality of the
environment, prevent or damage the beneficial use of land or water
resources, or endanger the health or safety of the public;
(i) assure that appropriate procedures are provided for the
public participation in the development, revision, and enforcement
of regulations, standards, reclamation plans, or programs
established by the Secretary or any State under this chapter;
(j) provide a means for development of the data and analyses
necessary to establish effective and reasonable regulation of
surface mining operations for other minerals;
(k) encourage the full utilization of coal resources through the
development and application of underground extraction technologies;
(l) stimulate, sponsor, provide for and/or supplement present
programs for the conduct of research investigations, experiments,
and demonstrations, in the exploration, extraction, processing,
development, and production of minerals and the training of mineral
engineers and scientists in the field of mining, minerals resources,
and technology, and the establishment of an appropriate research and
training center in various States; and
(m) wherever necessary, exercise the full reach of Federal
constitutional powers to insure the protection of the public
interest through effective control of surface coal mining
operations.
(Pub. L. 95-87, title I, Sec. 102, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 448.)
